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For the gun bichromate process

What should you use for cleaning your hake or other types of brush after you have applied your gum/pigment and dichromate solutions to your watercolor paper?

Also, if you use the brush techique for applying the gelatin and formaldehyde to size your paper, what should you use for cleaning your brush.

Thanks!

Bruce

I use very hot water for cleaning my hake and foam brushes as soon as I possibly can. Haven't had a problem yet.

J

John

Thanks!!

I also heard this same response from other sources

Bruce

I use hotwater and Dish soap.,.. after I soak them in a water bath for a while.

I also decided to just skip the dang haki brush and bought myself a high quality watercolor wash brush instead. The one I chose was the Da Vinci #60. ( about 2 inches wide) which at $60 US on sale,. was a high initial cost but it never looses any bristles. I bought it in June and it is really still in excellent shape. I care for it religiously(granddaughter of a signpainter, Brushes are sacred items in themselves)

I figure I was going through a Haki brush a week. more with sponge brushes and with the cost of gas to go and get new brushes and the cost of the brushes. I'm probably on the cost effective side by now.

I do like the beauty in which a wash brush holds the gelatine size. I get great coverage but not puddling.

So I went ahead and purchased another to apply gum with and have not been disappointed at all.

For smaller prints, 4 inches in width, I ve been using a great little watercolor wash brush I found along side the road. Windsor Newton 995 series. I love the way it holds plenty of gum and washes out so nicely.

All that being said. looks like I'm going to get great UV today and I'd better get cracking!

Windy

I have a stainless kitchen mixing bowl that I mix my emulsion in, which I also use to soak the brush in. One thing I have found, is that letting the brush soak in the hot water, gets more of the dichromate out of it. Even a 10 minute soak helps. I get the brush as clean as I can initially with soap and hot water, then the soak. Inevitably, there is still yellow that comes out.

I agree about getting the best brush you can afford. Even with a great brush, I have a little tweezer handy for stray hairs and bristles and the like that are left behind.

I've changed my wash method too...I been using The Masters Brush Soap from the art store

Is great for keeping my brush nice.

I also got dedicated glass measuring cups and labeled them "Photo Use only" with Liqutex glossies paint. It is a oven baked enamel.

I've been using the little cups like from the taco stand (for salsa) to mix my emulsion. Did you know that you can freeze it for a few days if you need to! Blues tend to get clumpy though. About 4 or 5 days max but it beats throwing out costly chemistry. ( I put it into a second plastic container and then into a ziploc bag so I have 2 layers of protection between my chemistry and my freezer.